BUDGET


CLAIM YOUR OWN ISLAND SARANAC LAKE, NEW YORK


Be like Gilligan—get away from it all by claiming an island paradise of your own, at least for a little while. The Saranac Lakes region in the Adirondacks is home to hundreds of islands. There


are 87 campsites scattered throughout to choose from and each sports a picnic table, pit privy and fire ring. Your family’s only company will be the towering balsam and fir trees lining the shore. As you paddle a canoe or kayak to your retreat, keep an eye out for bald eagles, deer, herons, mink, otter and moose. www.adirondacklakes.com.


CURL UP IN A CAVE BLUE RIVER, WISCONSIN


Forget big skies and star gazing, get deep and dark in one of America’s only caves that offer camping. Eagle Cave is Wisconsin’s largest onyx cave, boasting more than 3,000


feet of passages. The underground oasis is cool in the summer months and (com- paratively) warm through the winter. It’s a popular destination for youth groups who overnight underground as part of Eagle Cave’s exploratory program. Does cave camping make you claustrophobic? There’s also cabins and tent camp- ing—sur la terre—for those who prefer not to spend the night subterranean. In-cave camping is available from September to May only. www.eaglecave.net.


TOUCH THE STARS CHERRY SPRINGS STATE PARK, PENNSYLVANIA


Truly dark skies are hard to come by, especially in the eastern United States. To light up the night sky go to Cherry Springs


State Park in Pennsylvania. Located at the top of a 2,300-foot high mountain, it’s one of only four recognized dark sky preserves in the U. S. The park offers an excel- lent 360-degree view of the night sky and one of the best views of the Milky Way anywhere—under optimal conditions, the sky is so dark that the Milky Way casts a shadow and 10,000 stars can be seen with the naked eye. Check the website to register for interpretive programs and star parties. During the day, ride the 15-mile, single- track mountain bike trail that leaves from the campground, or hike in the surround- ing Susquehannock State Forest, the largest in the state. www.dcnr.state.pa.us.


PADDLE TO A TREEHOUSE ST. GEORGE, SOUTH CAROLINA


Halfway through your 23-mile paddle along the winding Edisto River, spend the night in a treehouse cabin perched 14 feet above the sandy river’s shore. Located on a 150-acre


wilderness reserve, these rustic treehouses are offered by Carolina Heritage Out- fitters and sleep from two to eight campers. Each is nestled in the woods with a view of the river’s edge but not of the other treehouses. Torches and candles are the only light source, just like when you were a kid. The Edisto is the lon- gest free-flowing blackwater river in the southern U.S., and live oaks covered with Spanish moss hang over its banks, rich with birdlife. The package includes canoes, shuttles, fuel and assistance with logistics. www.canoesc.com.


REST EASY IN A YURT TOBERMORY, ONTARIO


Get outdoors without roughing it—yurts are solid yet por- table, family-sized, tent-like structures. The 10 located at Bruce Peninsula National Park each offer a woodstove, beds


and a table and chairs made from recycled materials. A wagon will transport your gear from your car to your new home. It’s the same price as a hotel room, but far more memorable. Thanks to the limestone-rich shore of Georgian Bay, swimmers will be treated to Caribbean-blue water. Glass-bottom shipwreck tours are a popular nearby activity. As the terminus of the 750-kilometer long Bruce Trail, there’s no shortage of local hiking opportunities. www.pc.gc.ca.


MID-RANGE


SLEEP WITH THE FISHES KEY LARGO, FLORIDA


For a getaway Jacques Cousteau would approve of, take the family to Key Largo Undersea Park, home to America’s only underwater hotel. Previously a research station for marine


biologists, the refurbished getaway puts guests face to face with tropical angelfish, barracuda and parrotfish. To enter the submersible, guests must first scuba dive 21 feet to the mangrove lagoon’s sea floor. For those without certifications, the hotel can set you up with a three-hour crash course. The hotel has hosted guests from age nine to 70. Down below, a pizza dinner is delivered by a diver. www.jul.com.


TENT UNDER THE AURORA WHITEHORSE, YUKON


Head north to witness the spectacle of the northern lights in their full glory. Whitehorse-based tour operator North- ern Tales offers single- and multiple-night packages that


include aurora watching, followed by cozying up in a wall tent warmed by a woodstove. The cabin-sized canvas shelters are frontier living, having been used for centuries by explorers to weather the cold seasons. Wile away the day- light hours waiting for your midnight show with dog sledding, snowmobiling or wildlife viewing tours. Available August to April. www.northerntales.ca.


NEST IN A TREE BIG SUR, CALIFORNIA


For a truly unique sleep, try the Nest at Treebones Resort. Formed by Big Sur artist, Jayson Fann, the cliff-side wo- ven wood creation looks like a human-sized bird’s nest


and offers an unobstructed view to the Pacific. The glamping resort also offers campsites and yurts, all with incredible ocean views. After a good night’s sleep, go sea kayaking in the nearby Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the na- tion’s largest protected marine area. And if the wind is blowing too hard, there are plenty of misty redwood canyons to explore. www.treebonesresort.com.


LUXURY


SLEEP ON ICE QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC


Fulfill your childrens’ dreams and sleep in a snow fort—visit Hôtel de Glace in Quebec City. Featuring 44 rooms, each snowy paradise is equipped with a bed made of ice. On top rests a


cozy mattress and a thermal sleeping bag rated to -30°C so you can be comfort- able all night long during your Nordic adventure. Celebrating its fourteenth season, the hotel also features an ice bar, as well as an icy chapel for nuptials. It’s open from January until the end of March, weather permitting. Cross-country ski- ing and dog sledding are located nearby. www.hoteldeglace-canada.com.


TIPI ON THE RANGE WELLS, NEVADA


Wake up to the sound of galloping horses at Mustang Monu- ment, an eco-resort dedicated to the preservation and protec- tion of America’s wild mustangs. Located 25 miles outside of


Wells, Nevada, the ultra-luxurious tipi accommodations boast hardwood floors and custom-made beds. The sky is the limit when it comes to activities at the 900-square- mile property—guests can participate in guided walking tours and hikes, off-road adventures, wagon rides, photography tours and horse wrangling lessons. All profits go to the Saving America’s Mustangs charity. www.mustangmonument.com.


www.canoerootsmag.com | 41


INSET PHOTOS: COURTESY VISITADIRONDACKS.COM / ISTOCK / SHREENIVASAN MANIEVANNAN / COURTESY HERITAGE OUTFITTERS / COURTESY PARKS CANADA / COURTESY JULES UNDERSEA LODGE / COURTESY NORTHERN TALES TRAVEL SERVICE / COURTESY TREEBONES RESORT / COURTESY LUC ROUSSEAU, HOTEL DE GLACE / COURTESY MUSTANG MONUMENT


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